UPDATE ~ UK soldier in Iraqi abuse scandal "following orders"

[JURIST] Updating a JURIST report from earlier today, Cpl. Daniel Kenyon, one of the three UK soldiers facing court martial [JURIST report] for the alleged abuse of Iraqi civilians, has blamed his commanding officers for giving orders that led to the alleged offences [BBC photos] at a camp outside Basra. Kenyon's lawyer told the military court Wednesday that camp commander Maj. Dan Taylor implemented a plan called "Operation Ali Baba" and told his troops to catch looters and "work them hard." BBC News has more. In a related story, British PM Tony Blair called photos that depict the alleged abuse of Iraqis [JURIST report; photos from BBC News] "shocking and appalling." Blair said that he hoped that the court-martial of the three soldiers would show that "we do not tolerate this type of activity." The Guardian has more.

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